Beyond Pesticides, January 2, 2018) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 19, 2017 announced it was removing from the market 24 over-the-counter (OTC) disinfectants or antimicrobial ingredients, including triclosan, used by health care providers primarily in medical settings like hospitals, health care clinics, and doctors’ offices. The agency took this action because the chemical industry did not respond to a 2015 request for data to support a finding of “generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE).” The decision, which follows a 2016 FDA decision to remove OTC consumer soap products with triclosan for the same reason, leaves numerous consumer products (fabrics and textiles, sponges, undergarments, cutting boards, hair brushes, toys, prophylactics, other plastics, etc.) on the market with triclosan (often labeled as microban) under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The December decision leaves in commerce six antiseptic compounds widely used in the hospital and medical setting, in response to industry requests for more time to develop safety and efficacy data. Read More
Source: https://beyondpesticides.org

Food safety is extremely important. A food-borne illness outbreak can do irreversible damage to a brand’s credibility and a company’s profits. Most importantly, though, a food-borne illness outbreak can endanger the wellbeing of the general public. Unfortunately, food safety precautions often go unconsidered until it’s too late. Having a strong understanding of how foodborne illnesses originate and spread, along with using foodservice products designed specifically for safe food handling practices is a critical component in avoiding a food safety incident. The Spectrum Food Safety Program was developed by Carlisle FoodService Products to address critical food safety concerns in foodservice businesses.

The Carlisle Spectrum Food Safety Program is made up of educational materials, expertly curated products and a community of professionals that are available to help foodservice businesses implement or maintain a strong food safety program in their operations. The Spectrum brochure is packed with valuable insight into food safety facts, best practices and industry knowledge that is all availed to help keep food safe. Specific products are also highlighted in the brochure along with their uses and the specific features that make them optimal for applications in food safety systems.
The Spectrum webpage on the Carlisle website will be updated all September long with relevant information relating to food safety. Blog posts, interviews, videos and downloadable resources will be available to promote food safety awareness. In addition, Carlisle will be updating the public with food safety messages via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all September long. These are great platforms for members of the community to reach out and ask any questions that they might have about food safety or how a more effective food safety system can be implemented in a foodservice establishment.
Carlisle FoodService Products is committed to making foodservice establishments safer and more efficient. The community is encouraged to reach out with any questions, concerns or comments. In the meantime, please follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page. Feel free to start a dialog about food safety. After all, making the foodservice industry safer is not about sharing facts or reading a brochure. Safety starts with understanding and the best way to understand is to start a conversation. At Carlisle FoodService Products, we’re here for you.
More information is available on our Spectrum Food Safety page.

Food safety systems can do more than keep diners safe. Effective food safety systems can also increase the operational efficiency in a kitchen. From preventing cross-contamination to making food types easy to identify at a glance, color coding systems are a great way to assign order to what can easily become a chaotic environment. The Carlisle color coding system has been specifically designed with chefs’ kitchens in mind to help keep food safe and help kitchens run smoothly.
Carlisle color coded products are available in a wide assortment of different colors that fit into multiple color coding systems. Every kitchen is different and some kitchens have different needs and challenges that need to be met in specific ways. However, Carlisle has developed a system of color coded food segregation that applies to most kitchens. The system involves assigning different colors to groups of food based on their types. White is used for prepared food, dry food and dairy. Green is used for produce. Red for meat. Blue for fish. Yellow for poultry. Additionally, Carlisle suggests using purple for identifying allergen control products in the kitchen.
Purple has become the identifying color for allergen control products, not allergen free products. Through consultation with chefs and professionals in the industry, it was realized that having entirely, “allergen free,” products are not realistic in a kitchen. Therefore, Carlisle suggests that purple products be used for allergen control points. In some instances, it makes more sense for a purple storage box to contain a food that is an allergen in order to separate it from the rest of the kitchen’s food supply. In other instances, like when using a cutting board, it makes more sense for the purple color to signify a cutting board that is to only be used with allergen free foods, in order to eliminate cross-contact. Carlisle suggests using purple products to control allergens in the way that makes sense to the kitchen’s staff.
Carlisle color coded food boxes also fit into a particular stacking order when storing food. Carlisle suggests stacking food with prepared food at the top of the shelf (white), followed by produce (green), meat (red), fish (blue) and poultry (yellow) at the bottom. This stacking order is based on the minimum internal cooking temperatures of the foods. The lower the minimum internal cooking temperature, the higher the food sits on the shelf. That way, any liquid that might drip onto the food below has a greater chance of being sterilized during the cooking process.
An effective color coding system is a vital part of an efficient kitchen. Carlisle has color coded products to fit all types of kitchens. From receiving and storage using color coded food boxes, to prepping food with color coded cutting boards, to cooking and serving food with color coded dishers and tongs: Carlisle has considered the real-life challenges that chefs and kitchen staff face when working to prevent cross-contamination and keep the kitchen running safely.
More information is available on our Spectrum Food Safety page.

The Zika virus has been in the news and causing concerns. Unfortunately, there is still a lot we don’t know about Zika. Research is under way to get a better understanding of the virus. In the meantime, read on for important facts and preventative measures.
The Zika virus is primarily a mosquito-borne illness, spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Currently, there are outbreaks in a number of countries (click here for CDC information on areas with Zika). At this time, there have been no locally-transmitted cases of Zika in the continental United States, but Aedes mosquitoes are in some parts of the U.S.
(more…)

By James M. Barbaree, Ph.D., and James E. Harless
Many products today contain bacteria or enzymes that can clear blocked pipes, break down oil or grease and remediate the environment. To appreciate and understand the potential of these products, we need basic information about bacteria and enzymes to be aware of their benefits and uses.(more…)

To understand how any cleaning product works we must first understand what dirt is or rather comprised of.
Dirt is actually layers of fine films made up of grease, oils, fats, bacteria, germs, dust mites, non-organic material and organic micro-organisms. These films are bonded to each other and to the surface by amino and fatty acids.
Most cleaners emulsify some of these films but do not break down all the amino or fatty acids. Usually the visible layers of the films can be removed with general cleaning products giving the appearance of a clean surface. Quite often the organicmicro-organism remain to collect and feed bacteria and germs. These areas often re-soil quicker and are the main cause of odor problems.(more…)

First of all the Beast stands for Best Enzyme Aggressive Septic Treatment.The Beast is an environmentally, biodegradable, The bacteria in The Beast are natural, not synthetically made. There are 12 Billion count active microbes per ounce in this biological drain, septic and sewer treatment that is an admirable preventative maintenance product which can save you from costly repairs. Uses: for The Beast include: home drains, cat litter boxes, motor homes & boat tanks, septic tanks cesspools, drain fields, grease traps, grease interceptors, garbage disposals, imhoof tanks, municipal sewage treatment systems, anaerobic sludge digesters and sludge lagoons. The Beast is a special combination of natural bacteria and enzymes. This complex of cellulase, hemicellulases, amylases and lipases, in conjunction with bacteria, provides the capacity to degrade extra cellular polymers (which cause foaming) and suppresses the growth of the filamentous organisms by affecting the structure of the filaments. The Beast will DIGEST dead organic waste found in your plumbing system: grease, hair soap scum, food particles, paper and cotton. The Beast will not damage, or have any effect on inorganic materials such as plastic pipes. It does not produce heat, fumes or boiling like chemicals do. The Beast is safe to use around humans and animals as it contains non-hazardous natural ingredients. Within minutes after pouring The Beast solution into the drain, the bacteria begins to change waste particles that have accumulated into water, carbon dioxide and mineral ash which run harmlessly out of your waste system leaving it completely clean of obstructions.The Beast Features A blend of 7 bacterial strains - ENZYME ACTIVITY: Alpha Amylase (starch Degrading), Protease (Basic and neutral protein degrading), Cellulase (Paper Degrading) BACTERIA TYPE: Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis, Bacillus Polymyxa, Bacillus Magaterium Lactosvacillus Acidophilus, Aspergillus Oryzae, Rumenococcus Albus.
Eliminates costly backups and build up in tanks and pipes
Eliminates foul drain and garbage disposal odors
Restores poor flushing toilets and clogged drains
Pet stain and odor eliminator and much, much more, please take a minute and review your tech sheet.
The Beast will do the dirty work for you without the need of any acid, lye, solvents, perfume or poisonous substances.How The Beast gets the job done?
Like all living things, bacteria must “eat” to survive. The grease, hair, soap film and organic waste are food for the bacteria in The Beast. The enzymes prepare this “food” for the bacteria by breaking down the large molecules into a size the bacteria in The Beast can gorge on. When mixed with water, The Beast immediately goes to work! The enzymes are very fast and start breaking down waste on contact. Cables can only poke a hole through the mess which leaves a base for new waste to accumulate. If you don’t put The Beast "The Sludge Hunter" to work you will keep fighting the problem instead of solving it.
The Beast will save you money!!!
Septic Tank owners spend a great deal of money on regular pump outs and expensive drain field repairs. You can prevent these frequent pump outs and repairs with The Beast's preventative maintenance program.
How can such a small amount of The Beast be effective in plumbing?
There are 12 billion active microbes in each ounce of The Beast. Each one will eat its weight of waste every 60 seconds. They double in number every 30 minutes, and as they multiply they will spread throughout the entire drain system.
Will The Beast work on a clog?
Yes, though in most cases, the blockage is not caused by material caught in the trap. Most likely, it is several feet of pipe that is filled with trash and sludge. It may take several days for The Beast to eat it’s way through this long blockage. Therefore, it is suggested that a mechanical cable be used to restore the flow. Then begin The Beast treatments to remove any remaining waste build-up. Regular maintenance treatments will prevent new build-up from returning.
When will I notice the results?
The amount of time to notice results depends on the type of material the buildup is made up of (grease, soap, hair) and the length of the lines. Hair takes the longest to digest. Most people notice progress in a day or two. Sometimes it can take one to three weeks. After that make sure you follow our maintenance program to ensure this situation will not occur again.
Should the toilet be flushed after pouring The Beast into the bowl?
Do not flush for 6-8 hours. The quart of mixture poured into the bowl pushes one quart of water and mixture out of the bowl into the stack. The enzymes and bacteria carried out in the quart leaving the bowl are deposited into the pipes. In the following 6-8 hours they embed themselves in the gunk so that when the toilet is next flushed they will not be flushed out.
The Earth Friendly Beast verses Strong Harsh Chemicals...
The Beast will do the dirty work for you, without the need of any acid, lye, solvents or poisonous chemicals. The strongest chemical in the world can't climb the side walls of horizontal pipes. Gravity makes all chemicals run along the bottom. Nor can chemicals remove much waste in vertical pipes because they flow through so quickly. The bacteria in The Beast will live and will go anywhere there is food. The Beast will remove the gunk chemicals leave behind.
Is The Beast earth friendly? Yes, The Beast will do THE DIRTY WORK for you and be friendly to the environment.
Why purchase The Beast? There are a lot of companies selling other biological drain and sewer treatments and they want you to think their product is the best on the market. So we can't blame you for asking, "What's so great about The Beast anyway? Well, we may be just a little biased when it comes to The Beast, but we know we have an answer that's pretty hard to dispute. The Beast is superior to other biological drain and sewer products. It’s a product that has been around for decades. As technology reached new highs so did the formula of The Beast which now contains a blend of seven different bacterial strains which include: ENZYME ACTIVITY: Alpha Amylase (starch Degrading), Protease (Basic and neutral protein degrading), Cellulase (Paper Degrading) BACTERIA TYPE: Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis, Bacillus Polymyxa, Bacillus Magaterium Lactosvacillus Acidophilus, Aspergillus Oryzae, Rumenococcus Albus.
We believe you'll be convinced that using The Beast is the answer to all of your odor control & sewer and drain treatment needs.

The Beast is the Grease Trap Cleaner Used by Grease Trap Cleaners!

The Beast is a safe, easy to use product for a restaurant grease trap.The Beast contains bacterial cultures capable of producing powerful and fast acting enzymes. This complex of A blend of 7 bacterial strains – which are -ENZYME ACTIVITY: Alpha Amylase (starch Degrading), Protease (Basic and neutral protein degrading), Cellulase (Paper Degrading) BACTERIA TYPE: Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis, Bacillus Polymyxa, Bacillus Magaterium Lactosvacillus Acidophilus, Aspergillus Oryzae, Rumenococcus Albus, provides the capacity to degrade extra cellular polymers (which cause foaming), and suppresses the growth of the filamentous organisms by affecting the structure of the filaments. Designed to eat and digest biodegradable materials found in restaurant grease traps. Each jar contains living bacteria that multiply every 60 seconds to break down grease, fat, oil, paper, wood, and food particles. These specialized strains of bacteria will allow The Beast to digest any waste or organic matter that’s in your grease trap. Restaurants use The Beast to keep their grease traps from being clogged with grease.Directions for Use of The Beast: Initial Treatment:
(Powder) Use 2 ounces per 20 gallons of capacity. For larger traps, increase dosage proportionately. Wash down the drain with several quarts of water. For greater efficiency, clean the trap before adding this treatment, if it is heavily laden with grease. Do not use where strong caustics are present. Instead use our liquid product The Beast which is resistant to detergents. Preventative Maintenance: Once a week at the close of business, Use 1 tablespoon.
(Liquid) - For best results, start treatment immediately after the grease trap has been pumped. Add directly to the grease trap – Use 8 to 20 ounces of The Beast (Liquid) daily depending on the size of the grease trap, type of cooking, cleaning procedures and volume. Used properly, this products will drastically reduce costly pumping charges and BOD waste water surcharges.
Bio-Gator is 100% nontoxic, non-corrosive and 100% environmentally friendly.

Choosing the right respirator is key. No matter how well made your respirator is, it can’t filter out hazards that it’s not designed for. Once you have the results of your exposure assessment, you’re ready to select appropriate protection for your employees.Step One: Know your hazard type.
You’ll need to select equipment based on whether your work environment contains a particulate hazard (particles such as hazardous dusts or fibers), a gas or vapor hazard (such as solvent vapors or chlorine gas), or both types of hazards.
Generally, you protect against particulate hazards with a filter and against gas and vapors with a cartridge. If both types of hazards are present, combination cartridges are an option that can filter out both particles and gas or vapors
Step Two: Find out if your workers need respiratory protection.
The exposure assessment should yield employee exposure levels for the substances you tested for. The results are typically measured in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3), commonly averaged over an eight-hour work shift.
Compare your exposure levels to the occupational exposure limit (OEL) or permissible exposure limit (PEL) set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine if action is required by law. You can often use values set by other groups, such as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) – if those values are lower than the OEL. In any event, make sure both your measured concentrations and the levels to which you are comparing them (such as the OEL) use the same units of measure. For instance, both could be expressed in ppm for an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Measurements may also be in the form of 15-minute short-term exposure limits (STEL) or a ceiling limit (C), which is the absolute limit that should never be exceeded at any time by a worker.
If your employee exposure levels are below the OEL, then respirators aren’t legally required, though you may still want to offer respirators for voluntary use. If your levels are above the limit, look to reduce exposures through engineering, or administrative controls. If putting those controls into place is not feasible, choose respiratory protection that help bring exposures down to an acceptable level for workers.
Step Three: Determine level of protection needed.
The only respirators OSHA allows for use in the workplace are those approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). All NIOSH-approved respirators have an assigned protection factor (APF), which can range from 10 to 10,000.
The APF is the workplace level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees when the employer implements a continuing, effective respiratory protection program as specified by 29 CFR 1910.134. For instance, an APF of 10 means the respirator can protect against exposure levels that are up to 10 times the PEL for that hazard.
To see what level of APF your workplace needs, divide your exposure levels by the exposure limit. (This is called the “hazard ratio.”) For instance:
Exposure level: 500 ppm
÷
OEL or PEL: 50 ppm
—
APF: 10
Step Four: Choose a respirator type
Once you know your required APF, you can narrow down your choices to those respirators that can reduce exposure to below the OEL. OSHA lists APFs for different types of respirators. For example, half-mask respirators with cartridges and filters have an APF of 10.
Besides choosing equipment appropriate for your workplace’s types and levels of hazards, you must also consider compatibility with other required protective equipment, such as safety glasses and hard hats. Glasses and half face respirators, for example, may compete for space on the same part of the face — the bridge of the nose — so it’s vital to find equipment that fits together without causing either leakage around the respirator edges or loss of eye protection.
Comfort and ability to do the job are also important considerations; if the work is particularly strenuous, try to select respirators that are as lightweight and streamlined as possible. And keep in mind that people’s faces come in all shapes and sizes; you may need to select from a variety of models and sizes to find properly fitting respirators for all workers who need one.
For more information please visit:
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/safety-centers-of-expertise-us/respiratory-protection/respirator-selection/3M Respirator Selection Guide

Safety Knives and Cutters
Choose from our Spellbound / Crewsafe selection of knives and cutters with integrated safety features designed to reduce injuries. These safety knives and cutters are an essential part of any workplace safety program and help to reduce the costs associated with occupational injuries in a variety of industries including warehousing, retail, food service, manufacturing and construction.

safety-utility-knife-xtra safe XSCU Knife_XSCU03101

Safety Utility Knife - X-Tra Safe® XSCU KnifeItem #: XSCU-03101
With our patented one pull, one cut technology, our innovative X-traSafe CU Utility Knife is a revolutionary solution to the safety and risk management needs of companies in a variety of industries. Specifically designed to minimize blade exposure in an effort to reduce the number of careless recordable workplace injuries that can potentially occur in settings where there is a repeated and frequent need for cutting boxes open. Our patented CrewSafe safety guard system lock engages and protects users after each cut to ensure maximum protection against costly workplace laceration accidents.(more…)

We’re excited to announce our list of new members who officially joined the Chamber last month. We look forward to working with each company throughout the year and appreciate their support! Astoria Hospice LLC Atlantic Home Mortgage Bryson Reed Real Estate Chilivis Cochran Larkins & Bever LLP Cobb EMC Covenant Capital Investors Enhanced Capital Fitzgerald… […]

Authentic Georgia was first introduced at the 2018 Eggs and Issues event to increase business visibility in Georgia. Every Georgia business has a story to share and Authentic Georgia strives to strengthen the relationship between people and business. Georgia proudly represents inclusive products, things to do/tourism opportunities, homegrown makers, the talent offered and the entertainment… […]

The Georgia Chamber hosted their second High Potentials Leadership Program last week at SunTrust Park. The class joined together to learn more about leadership skills and how their potential growth within their careers could impact the community. The High Potentials are chosen by their companies who are members of the Georgia Chamber. The week consisted… […]

The Georgia Chamber has officially released its 2019 Legislative Scorecard highlighting how elected officials voted on the business community’s top issues during this year’s Session of the Georgia General Assembly. With hundreds of bills introduced and debated each legislative session, the Georgia Chamber’s legislative team along with its members identify the most impactful issues to… […]

Regional Small Business Series Cartersville For the past three years, the Georgia Chamber has hosted a series of power lunches across the state that provided guests with insightful content and networking opportunities. Now, in its fourth year, the Georgia Chamber has revamped the summer series to celebrate the small business owners and entrepreneurs across the… […]

We’re excited to announce our list of new members who officially joined the Chamber last month. We look forward to working with each company throughout the year and appreciate their support! The post New Members in February appeared first on Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Did you know that with your membership to the Georgia Chamber you receive 20% off the Georgia HR Library? Our hope is that this resource will help you operate your business more efficiently and avoid the hidden pitfalls of HR law. The updated and revised 2019 edition of the Georgia HR Library was not written… […]

Talent & Leadership Policy Committee | Smart Decisions Coalition The Talent and Leadership Policy Committee studies ways that Georgia can improve the entire spectrum of education throughout the state. A talented workforce and strong community leaders are among the most important factors in determining how Georgia will grow in the 21st century. Availability of talent… […]

The Georgia Chamber has kicked of its plans to lead the New Georgia Economy by making entrepreneurship and innovation one of its top strategic focus areas. We are proud to have developed Georgia InVenture Prize, a new innovation competition in partnership with the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the… […]

This half-day workshop will provide unique insights into emerging trends and risks, and the impact of small business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The series in an excellent opportunity for aspiring and established small business owners to hear directly from experts and inspirational speakers on topics ranging from future trends in human resources, to achieving the next […]

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FDA issued a warning letter to Electric Lotus LLC for selling nicotine-containing e-liquids used in e-cigarettes with labeling and/or advertising that cause them to resemble kid-friendly food products.